October 09, 2013

Admitted Pedophile Taught At Conservative Movement's Flagship School

Akiva Roth, an admitted pedophile hired this year to teach at Yeshiva University, taught at the Conservative Movement's Jewish Theological Seminary a decade ago – only four years after pleading guilty to charges related to sexually abusing boys.

Akiva Roth, an admitted pedophile hired this year to teach at Yeshiva
University (where YU high school students can take his classes) taught at the Conservative Movement's Jewish Theological
Seminary (JTS) a decade ago – only a four years after pleading guilty to
charges related to sexually abusing boys. Akiva Roth was still on probation when he was hired by JTS and when he taught there.

Nonetheless, Rabbi Joel Roth remained on staff at JTS as a full professor.

In 2000, he co-taught a course at JTS with his son Akiva – five years after Akiva had pleaded guilty to sexually abusing children.

A former JTS student now writes:

I can confirm that he taught at JTS as I had him as a teacher for Hebrew Grammar in June 2001.

I can also confirm for you that Akiva is indeed the son of Rabbi Joel Roth. In 2000 they co-taught Hebrew language/Grammar at JTS over the summer. Akiva taught in the summer of 2000 and 2001 at JTS - not sure about any other time.

Update 12:25 pm CDT 10-9-2013 – I'm told that Akiva Roth taught at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, sometimes with his father. I don't have the exact years yet, but they appear to roughly coincide with the abuse he pleaded guilty to.